The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-07-09
FARM soARplNe.HousEs.
Suggestions for Farmers who Intcnd Keep
Ing Summer Boarders.

SuEESsttOnS TOT FARMERS VINO lntcuu hSep
Ing Summer Boarders.
As profits on farms decrease, it is
natural that farmers should look about
for some new source of revenue. Living
expenses. taxes and repairs are con-
stant. The money must come from
somewhere. The plan of keeping
few summer boarders is favorite on,
with many farmers. 1t may be that
some readers will go into the business
this year for the first time. I have
had some twelve years experience in
this work and know there is much to be
learned in it. 1t is business that Is
quite expensive at starting, even in q
small way. II not successful, it will
often bury the farmer in the pit he is
trying to escape from. 1t is n business
that may we'll be discussed-itis is legit-
innate branch of farming. Talking IL
over will help both the farmer and the
people who visit the farm in search o,
health and rest The farmer must
remember that people coming from the
city leave many comforts that can not
be had in the country. In exchange
for these they expect to have things
which they can not procure in the
city. They want pure air and water
uncontaminated with foul smell or
taste. They expect to be made COM
Portable and to have their food Gf
plain) well cooked; also good beds and
good-sized, comfortable rooms.
Many seem to think city people eS-
pect to rough it. This may answer on
y trip of day or two, but for three
months stay we must make them COM
Portable if we expect them to spend
another summer at the farm.
Will it not be well for us to look
around the house and farm little be-
/! fore the season commences? Is the
well above the suspicion of getting
drainage from barn or house surround
ings? Do you get the water from a
springp If so, are the cattle entirely
away from it in winter as well as sum-
mer? Avoid plowing near it so that
there may be no wash from the plowed
ground.
How about the drainage? DO we
throw the slops out the back doorp We
must stop that and build q drain which
will carry these things well away from
The house. And the water-closets-are
,, they convenient to reach in rainy
weather. and are they kept in a whole-
some condition.? Remember this is very
important, and that earth is cheap and
thorough deodorizer and disinfectant if
used every day.
Now let us look around inside the
house. Have you clothes-closet in
; each room9 If not, put in wardrobe,
!, so that boarders may have n place in
which to hang up their clothes out of
the way of the dust, and chance to
make the room neat and presentablc.
We must remember their room is the
} only place they can call home while in
the country. 1t is not necessary that
the furniture should be expensive; but
: put good, comfortable mattress on
the bed, and let every thing, not only
in the sleeping rooms, but the whole
house, be kept scrupulously clean and
neat. Let the table be literally sup-
piled with fresh vegetables well cooked.
See that your bread is not sour or heavy,
and if you do not have many varieties.
> let those you do have be we'll cooked.
Give boarders plenty of milk if they
5 wish it. Don't charge extra if they
i want milk dozen times day. This
G is one of the comforts many appre.
Q ciate on the farm. Charge enough
Il for board so you can give your guests
n all they can eat and drink and then
:. make them feel they are welcome to
Q any thing the farm affords, and that
n they are to feel at home. Do not adj
!, vertise free rides and expect to carry
d your guests all over the country free.
y 1t is u loss to the farmer and, if the
), guest is person of any independence.
after you have taken your team from
G the field at his request and refused any
Il compensation, he will not feel like ask
9 ing you second time, no matter how
= much he would like to ride. Thus he
d deprives himself of q pleasure that
# would have been profit to you. 1t is
h these little things that often fill your
house the second season if regarded. or
h leave it empty if disregarded. We
must remember that people can not be
Il expected to come second season where
it they were not comfortable or where they
Q considered their health in danger; nei-
Q ther will they send their friends, but
r will warn them not to visit your farm.
r -En,nlons Pond, in Rural Ne,O Yorker.